Rolling machine



April 1S', 1969l H,ls.`A'cH| |-:R ETAL 3,438,232

` ROLLING MACHINE:

Filed Maron 21, 1967 l sheet @f5 15m/n 0715" f7/award S. @cler Maro@ @Kaufmann April 15, 1969 H.`s. ACHLER ETAL `3,438,232

ROLLING MACHINE med Maren .21,` 19e? Sheet April 15, 41969 H. s. AcHLL-:R ET AL 3,438,232

ROLLING MACHINE Filed March 2l, 1967 `5, my n f l. a or .1 \N\\\\\\^ s* Sm www ,www VH t n ,a ,m wml ISV@ ,m w @o GNS@ April 15, 1 969 |1.s. ACHLER ETAL 3,438,232

ROLLING MACHINE med March 21, 1967 Sheet 4 OF5 E27/'en tons.' @You/ard (Si @fehler (Harold L/czuf'nzann' v d I L; ifi/S55 IZ c April 15, 1969 H. s. AC1-LER ETAl. 3,438,232

Y ROLLING MACHINE Filed March 21, 1967 sheep of 5 Jz #n fors.'

@foward 6T @fehler Marold fau/mann #Egy- United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 72-166 12 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A two-roller rolling machine of the type for rolling sheet metal into arcuate shapes and with a cycling or sequence means for alternately forcing the rollers together and separating them is constructed with a swingable lever that carries the rigid-periphery roller with its axis in an upright attitude for movement between said sequential positions. A force-multiplying means with an adjustable control therefor is connected to the lever to provide a machine that permits obtaining both easily varied pressures between the two rollers, and to effect the cycling of the rigid-periphery roller between its said two cycling positions. In one form of device, using a cylindrical rigidperiphery roller, means are provided for retaining a slip-on tube in position between the rollers despite the effects of gravity.

In two other forms of the machine, means are provided for rolling right circular cones of sheet metal. A specific form of machine for rolling sheet metal cones uses frusto-conical rollers of complementary shape rotating about axes substantially perpendicular to each other.

In each form of machine, the force-multiplying means uses a plurality of simple links, one o-f which is articulated and is actuated by a force applying member so as to efficiently obtain a very large mechanical advantage. The adjustable control is a single, manually controlled, screw connection to one link of the force-multiplying means.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application, Ser, No. 512,710, led Dec. 9, 1965, now U.S. Patent No. 3,371,513, dated Mar. 5, 1968.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to a two-roller machine for rolling arcuate sheet metal shapes.

Description of the prior art In our Patent No. 3,304,757, dated Feb. 2l, 1967, there is disclosed the basic concept of a machine for rolling into arcuate form with virtually unnoticeable flats, with use of only two rollers, sheet metal with thicknesses in the range of gauge sizes. In our said co-pending application, Ser. No. 512,710, filed Deo. 9, 1965, of which this application is a continuation-in-part, we have disclosed a two-roller sheet metal rolling machine that includes a cycling means for alternately forcing the two rollers together (FIG. l) to roll the sheet metal, and for separating the rollers (FIG. 2) to permit release and discharge of the rolled sheet metal from the rolling machine. In said co-pending application, we have also disclosed (FIG. use of a slip-on tube, or sleeve, over the rigid-periphery roller to utilize the same machine for rolling sheet metal into arcs having different radii of curvature.

While the machine of said co-pending application is shown with the axes of the rollers thereof horizontal, it

lCe

will be obvious that if the machine were positioned with the aXes of the rollers upright or vertical, the force of gravity would effect automatic discharge of rolled arcs or cylinders of sheet metal when the one end of the rigidperiphery roller is free and when the two rollers have been cycled to their separated position as shown (FIG. 2).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The arranging of a two-roller machine for vertical discharge of the rolled sheet metal products poses a number of problems whose solutions are not evident and which are the subject of this application yfor patent.

Thus, one object of the invention herein is to provide a two-roller sheet metal rolling machine having improved roller-moving means including force-multiplying means and a control means therefor for cycling the two rollers between the position where the two rollers are pressed together and the position where the two rollers are spaced apart.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tworoller sheet metal rolling machine wherein the axis of the rigid-periphery roller is upright and wherein simple and eicient means are provided for retaining a slip-on tube on said upright roller.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved force multiplying means and control means therefor in combination with the movable roller of a two-roller sheet metal rolling machine.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a two-roller rolling machine for rolling a right circular come of sheet metal.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of machine embodying the inventions herein.

FIG. 2 is a top plan View, with portions broken away, of certain parts of the machine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 3 3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View taken substantially on line 6 6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but showing a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view taken substantially on line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view taken looking from the left of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view showing another modified form of a portion of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED i 'EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a machines framework generally indicated at 10 having thereon an upper bed or table 12, a lower adjustable platform 14, and a plurality of upright support legs 16. The upper table 12 is in the fo-rm of a hollow box-like body that includes an upper plate 12a, a lower plate 12b, and a plurality of upright side plates 12e. The lower platform 14, as seen in FIG. 1, is pivotally and adjustably mounted for purposes of adjusting the position of a drive motor 18 carried thereon. The drive motor 18 drives a belt means 20 trained over an input sheave 22 of a gear reducer 24 that has a downwardly extending output shaft 26 which carries a drive sprocket 28 for transmitting power therefrom through a chain drive 30 to a driven sprocket 32 spaced above the table 12.

The driven sprocket 32 connects to an upright disposed drive shaft 34 whose reduced upper end 34a is journaled in a sleeve 35 carried by spaced upper and lower bearings 36 and 37, respectively carried in plates 12a and 12b. The first, or driven, roller of the two-roller rolling machine includes drive shaft 34, cylinder or sleeve 38 keyed to shaft 34 by key 38a, and a urethane rubber sleeve 40 rotatable with sleeve 38. Nut 39 screw connected to re- Y duced stud 39a operates to axially retain cylinder 38 on shaft 34.

The second member or roller of the two-roller rolling machine is a rigid-periphery cylinder 42 formed of steel or the like. Cylinder 42 has a reduced upwardly extending shaft 44, which is rotatably journaled in a sleeve 45 that is mounted in spaced bearings 46 and 47, carried in opposite ends of an outer sleeve 48. The outer sleeve 48 is attached to one end of an elongated lever arm 5t]` by means of welding S2 or the like. At a point spaced intermediate the ends of elongated lever arm Si), there are provided oppositely extending tubular studs or bosses 54. A fulcrum shaft, or pivot pin, 56 is carried in lever arm and extends through the tubular stubs 54 to project outwardly thereof and to provide ends which are pivoted in bushings 57 provided in horizontal plates 12a and 12b. The other end of lever arm 50 connects to a force-multiplying means generally indicated at 58, as best seen in FIG. 2.

As the lever arm 50 pivots about the axis of fulcrum 56, the second member, or roller, 42 is swung toward and away from the periphery of the urethane rubber sleeve 40. When the arm 50 swings counterclockwise around the axis of pin 56, as viewed in FIG. 2, the roller 42 is swung toward a first position of p-ressurizing engagement with the periphery of urethane roller 40, while when the arm 50 is swung in the opposite direction the roller 42 moves to a second position spaced or separated from the first roller wherein the rolled sheet metal part is released and discharged from the rolling machine.

The rolling machine may also use a slip-on tube 60, which, because roller 42 is upright, must be supported against gravity forces. Such support is provided in part by the peripheral flange 62 at the lower end of the roller 42, which preferably extends outwardly of roller 42 an amount substantially equal to the thickness of the slip-on tube 60. The fiange 62 is a removable part that may be readily connected to the lower end of roller 42 by any appropriate means such as the screw connection 63 seen in FIG. 3.

To provide additional support for the slip-on tube 60, the roller end of lever arm 50 carries adjustable bracket means which moves with arm 59 and which includes upright flanges 64 secured by bolts 65 to the outer sleeve part 48, a substantially horizontal flange or plate 66, and vertically disposed braces 68 and 70 between plate 66 and ange 64 for rigidifying the bracket assembly. The plate 66 is provided with a pair of elongated slots 72 and 74 which extend outwardly and divergently relative to the axis of roller 42. Each of slots 72 and 74 is adapted to have extended therethrough the shank of a headed clamping bolt 76. The shank bolt 76 is threaded into a head 78 of an elongated upright support 80 that is of a length to extend through and below slip-on tube and being T-shaped in cross-section, for purposes of rigidity, and which support is provided with an out-turned lip 82 at the lower end thereof. The out-turned lip 82 is adapted to engage or support the lower edge of the slip-on tube 60 so that the ange 62 cooperating with the two outturned lips 82 of the supports 80, which are spaced from flange 62, provides a three point support for the slip-on tube 60. It will be understood that by adjustment of the bolts 76 along the length of slots 72 and 74, means are provided to accommodate slip-on tubes of various diameter.

When the device is rolling a sheet metal blank, the sheet metal 84 is caused to pass between the two rollers, or if a slip-on tube is used then between the slip-on tube 60 and the periphery of the urethane sleeve 40, thus causing forming of the sheet metal 84 to the desired arcuate contour. When the rollers are separated, the arcuate sheet metal part 84 is free to fall or be discharged from the machine, by gravity, from the position seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6.

The force-multiplying means 58, that connects to the end of lever arm 5() remote from sleeve 48, for the purposes of swinging the second roller 42 sequentially or cyclically between the rst position where the rollers of the machine are in a pressurizing condition, such as seen in FIG. 6 for example, and the second position where the second roller 42 is so spaced from 'the first, or urethane rubber, roller that the sheet metal 84 is released, is best understood by reference to FIG. 5. The force-multiplying means are located in the hollow interior of table 12 between the upper and lower horizontal plates 12a and 12b. Such force-multiplying means 58 includes a plurality of links arranged to connect through certain pivots or pins that will now be described.

Three of the pivots connect to the upper and lower plates 12a and 12b and hence are fixed relative to the table 12, although they are free to pivot in their respective mountings. Appropriate bushings 56a, 86a, and 94a are provided for the respective pivots. The other pivots are free to move relative to table 12. The fixed pivots are 56, `86 and 94. The movable pivots are 88, 9G, 92 and 101. A first elongated link 87 extends between pivots 86 and 88 and lies generally parallel to and spaced from the lever arm 5t). Pivot pin 90 is pivoted in the remote end of lever arm 50. Fixed pivot 56 is the fulcrum for lever arm Sii. Pivot pin 92 is substantially midway between pivot pins 88 and 90. Link 89 extends between pivots 88 and 92 and is pin connected, as shown, to -pivot 88. Link 91 extends between pivots and 92 and is pin connected, as shown, to both pivots. The links 89 and 91 constitute the segments of an articulated brace link means whose ends pivotly connect to first link 87 and lever arm 50. As best seen in FIGS. 3-5, the links are formed of one bar or two spaced bars so that there is no interference between the joined links. From the standpoint of a structural link, an extensible or variable length link 93 extends between fixed pivot 94 and movable pivot 92. The variable length link 93 derives its character from the fact that it includes a fluid pressure cylinder 93a and a piston 93b. When iiuid pressure is applied to the cylinder 93a, in a manner that is well known in the art, the piston 93b is extended to the full line or braced, pressure-transmitting position as seen in FIG. 2, while if the uid pressure is released, or applied in the opposite direction, as is well known in the art, the piston 93b is caused to be retracted to the dotdash line or release position in FIG. 2. This action of the variable length link 93 operates to swing the lever arm 50 Ibetween the two sequential positions as aforedefined. To provide proper connections to the pivots, plate 94b is provided secured to pivot 94 and carrying f cylinder 93a, while piston 93b is provided at its extended A control means is provided for selectively adjusting the force-multiplying means to selectively vary the pressure developed between the two rollers when they are in their first or pressurizing position. Such control means is best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 and in the detail of FIG. 4. The flink 87 is structured to provide between its end portions 87a and 87a` a pair of vertically spaced plates 37b, between which is positioned a block like member 100 journaled in bushings 102 for pivoting about the axis of pivot 101. The block member 100 is provided with a threaded horizontal bore 104. A second rock block like member 106, journaled in bushings 108, is arranged to pivot about the axis of pivot 107 fixed to table 12. Control shaft 110 is journaled in a horizontal bushing in member 106. The

. extended end of shaft 110 is threaded at 112 for cooperation with threads 104 in block 100. The opposite end of shaft 110 is provided with a hand wheel controller 114. When the wheel 114 is rotated, the cooperation between threads 112 and 104 operates to bias the link 87 toward or away from the block 106, and this arrangement operates to vary the position of movable pivot 88, thereby varying the positions of the remainder of the links of the `force-multiplying means. Since the length of links 89 and 91 remain constant, it will be understood that by moving the pin 88 toward the left as seen in FIG. 2, the pressure -developed between the two rollers by the force-multiplying means is increased, while by moving the pin 88 toward the right as seen in FIG. 2, the force developed by the force-multiplying means in the pressurizing of the two cylinders is decreased. Thus, a very simple control provides for selective adjustment of the forcemultiplying means to selectively vary the pressure developed between the two rollers when in the first or pressurizing position.

The construction details of the mountings for the two rollers also provides desirable benefits. The tubular sleeve 35 is shouldered at 35a and is provided with a clamp nut 3512 at its other end for the purpose of securing itself and the assemblage of bearings 36 and 37 in position on table 12. =By removing only the nut 39, which operates to hold the sleeve 38 in position, the entire sleeve 38 and urethane rubber sleeve 40 may be removed, without affecting the drive shaft 34 which is connected at its upper end at 34a to the sprocket 32. The use of the key 38a permits of slipping rollers or sleeves of different dimension onto shaft 34 so as to vary the size or character of the first roller.

With regard to the second roller, the shaft 44 is normally retained in position by means of an annular abutment plate 44a and a headed bolt 4417 screw threaded into the end of shaft 44. Merely by unscrewing the bolt 44b, the entire second roller 42-44 may be removed, and if desired, a new'roller of a different dimension may be substituted. In order to provide for such a quick change of the roller, a journal sleeve 45 is provided which is headed at its lower end to engage the bearing 47 and which is threaded at its upper end to receive the retainer nut 45a, thereby providing a clamp sleeve type arrangement for readily receiving interchangeable rollers 42.

In the modified form of device of FIGS. 7-9, there is provided a machine vfor rolling sheet metal blanks into right circular cones. In FIGS. 7-9, those parts of the machine which correspond with parts previously described are similarly numbered. In FIG. 7, an upright drive shaft 34 which is connected to and driven by sprocket 32 is provided at its lower end with a bevel gear 120. The manner of mounting as is seen in FIG. 7 permits of a simple interchange of bevel gears when desired. Mounted on the underside of table 12, by securement to plate 12b, is a downwardly extending mounting stud 122 adapted to receive interchangeable sub-assemblies, one of which is shown and described herein.

The stud 122 carries a sleeve 124 which is retained in position by a removable nut-like member 126-. The sleeve 124 connects by an offset structural member 128 to a horizontal sleeve which carries therein spaced bearings 132. A stub shaft 134 is mounted in bearings 132 and carries thereon gear disc 136 upon which is formed a bevel gear 1313 for cooperation with bevel gear 120. The gear ldisc 136 secures to a support disc or plate 133 whose outer face is shaped to define a lfrusto-conical surface 140. Secured to said disc 138 is a frusto-conical pad or Llayer of urethane rubber 142 whose outer surface is frusto-conical at 144, and is arranged to be complementary to the frusto-conieal periphery of a second or rigid-periphery roller. The second roller of the rolling machine is in the form of a steel roller 146 which has a frusto-conical periphery at 143 that is substantially complementary to the frusto-conical surface 144 of the urethane disc 142.

It will be seen that the chain 30 operates to drive bevel gears 120 and 133 to cause the disc 13S to rotate about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the second roller 146 when the second roller is in its first or pressurizing position, as is best seen in FIG. 9. By passing a preformed, flat sheet metal blank between the two rollers when they are in the pressurizing position, there is formed a sheet metal cone that is perfectly right circular. When the rollers are separated by actuation of lever arm 50, the cone drops by gravity from roller 146.

In FIG. 10, still another variant or modified form of machine is illustrated that will produce frusto-conical cones of sheet metal. In FIG. 10, corresponding parts are given identical number as appear in FIGS. 7-9. Here it will be seen that the steel or second roller 146 is positioned with its axis of rotation substantially vertical. The framework of the machine (not shown) has been appropriately modified so as to carry thereon a first roller having a urethane rubber periphery 152, which is shaped to provide a frusto-conical periphery which, when working or pressurized, is, at the point of pressurization, of substantially the same included angle as is defined by the rigid frusto-conical periphery 148 of the second roller. The axis of rotation of the second roller is indicated at 145, and the axis of rotation of the first roller is indicated at 153. The roller 150 is arranged so that its axis of rotation 153 is inclined relative to the axis 145, so that the included angle therebetween is equal to the included angle of the frusto-conical periphery of roller 146.

While the first, or resilient-periphery roller is shown cantilevered, that is supported on the framework of the machine only by engagement of the upper end of said roller, it will be appreciated that if greater rigidity is required, the lower end of said first roller may be caused to be engaged by an additional frame member (not shown) so as to effect such rigidification, the only requirement being that the additional frame member be positioned so as not to interfere with the swing, or movement, of the second roller. Where relatively short length rollers are employed, as is shown in the forms herein, such additional rigidity is not normally needed.

In use of the machine, it will be understood that any appropriate means may be used to feed blanks of sheet metal, disposed in an upright or vertical plane, into the bite between the two rollers when they are in their pressurizing position. The friction between the rollers and the metal blank will hold the blank properly positioned despite gravity forces. Automatic feeding means, not shown but well known in the art, may be provided to feed metal blanks at intervals arranged in cycled sequence with the cycling movement of the second roller between the first, or pressurizing, and second, or release, positions, so that the operation of the machine is automatic.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claims 7 to cover all such changes and modications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An improved two-roller, sheet metal rolling machine of the type having a support frame that carries a first member with a resilient periphery and drive means coupled to said first member to rotate same, a second member with a rigid periphery, and cycling means for alternately forcing the two members together to roll the sheet metal and for separating the members to permit release and discharge of the rolled sheet metal from the rolling machine; said improved rolling machine comprising, in combination: an elongated lever carried on the frame and pivoted about an upright fulcrum axis, the second member being an elongated roller that is supported for rotation about an upright axis from only one end thereof on said elongated lever at a point spaced from the levers ulcrum axis, force-multiplying means operatively associated with the elongated lever to swing said levei about its fulcrum axis to selectively move the second member into a rst, pressurizing, position in which a sheet of metal may be rolled to arcuate shape under pressure developed between the two members, or into a second position in which the second member is spaced from the first member, and control means for selectively adjusting the force-multiplying means to selectively vary the pressure developed between said two members in said first pressurizing position.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second member is a cylindrical roller, and means at the lower end of the second member serving as part of a support for a slip-on tube.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 including a plurality of support elements spaced from said means at the lower end of the second member but cooperating with said means to support a slip-on tube.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1 including adjustable bracket means carried by and movable with said lever and providing a plurality of supports lying in a plane substantially at the lower end of the second member for supporting a slip-on tube in a position surrounding the second member.

5. A device as in claim 1 wherein the elongated lever is a lever of the rst class with the fulcrum located between the second member and the point of operative association between the lever and the force-multiplying means.

6. A device as in claim 1 wherein the force-multiplying means includes: an elongated first link lying generally parallel to and spaced from the elongated lever; elongated, articulated, brace link means having its ends pivoted respectively to the first link and elongated lever; and force means for simultaneously moving the segments of the articulated brace link means selectively between a braced, pressure-transmitting position and a release position in which the second member is swung to its position spaced from the first member.

7. A device as in claim 6, wherein said control means is connected to said first link.

8. A device as in claim 6, wherein the force means is provided with a range of movement selected so as to move the articulated brace link means to a position to lie in a substantially straight line at one end of the range of movement of the force means.

9. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second member is a frustoconical roller.

10. A device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first member is a truste-conical roller whose axis of rotation is inclined relative to the axis of the second member an amount substantially equal to the included angle of the peripheral wall of the frusto-conical second member.

11. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second member is a truste-conical roller and wherein the first member is mounted to rotate about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the second member, the resilient periphery of the first member for engaging the sheet metal being in the form of the frustrum of a cone which is complementary to the frusto-conical shape of the second member.

12. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the fulcrum axis of the elongated lever is fixedly located on the frame, the force-multiplying means including a plurality of linked elements separate from the elongated lever, and the control means including a single, manually rotatable, member and a screw connection -between the normally rotatable member and one of said plurality of linked elements.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,251,901 8/1941 Cairns 72-166 2,699,195 1/1955 Weller 72-166 3,279,234 10/1966 Ames 72-166 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

A. RUDERMAN, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. C1. X.R. 

